Grain divider apparatus

ABSTRACT

The invention comprises a grain divider having a rectangular housing. A plurality of trays are suspended across a set of endless chains for travel with the chains from one end of the housing toward the other end of the housing and returning. The trays are evenly spaced from one another. Each tray is smaller at one end and made gradually larger toward the other end. A drum is mounted above the housing and above the trays and has a spout at its lower end. The drum is moveably mounted for movement of the spout laterally across the trays from the smaller ends of the trays to the larger ends of the trays. The drum contains grain and the grain is fed out of a spout at the bottom of the drum. The lateral movement of the drum and its spout enables the location of the spout to be shifted from a location above the smaller ends of the tray toward a location above the larger end of the trays for varying the size of the sample divided out by the trays.

United States Patent J irik 1 Sept. 5, 1972 [54] GRAIN DIVIDER APPARATUS Primary Examiner-S. Clement Swisher Attorney-Robert E. Kleve ABSTRACT The invention comprises a grain divider having a rectangular housing. A plurality of trays are suspended across a set of endless chains for travel with the chains from one end of the housing toward the other end of the housing and returning. The trays are evenly spaced from one another. Each tray is smaller at one end and made gradually larger toward the other end. A drum is mounted above the housing and above the trays and has a spout at its lower end. The drum is moveably mounted for movement of the spout laterally across the trays from the smaller ends of the trays to the larger ends of the trays. The drum contains grain and the grain is fed out of a spout at the bottom of the drum. The lateral movement of the drum and its spout enables the location of the spout to be shifted from a location above the smaller ends of the tray toward a location above the larger end of the trays for varying the size of the sample divided out by the trays.

3 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures 3 mail-aim I PATEN'TEDSEP 5 m2 INVENTOR FRANK J. JIRIK ATTORNEY GRAIN DIVIDER APPARATUS This invention relates to grain divider apparatus.

It is an object of the invention to provide a grain divider apparatus having a novel variable divider whereby the size of the sample divided out of the sample may be varied in relation to the quantity of grain being divided.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel divider whereby the size of the subsample divided out of the sample may be varied to enable larger or smaller subsamples to be obtained.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel variable divider device which may be inexpensively manufactured with a minimum of cost and expense.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds and when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the variable divider invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the variable divider invention.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary front view of the variable divider invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the variable divider taken along line 33 of FIG. 1 with portions broken away to reveal the interior construction.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary side view of the variable divider apparatus when taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of one of the divider trays.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the divider tray.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a first modified form of divider tray.

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the first modified form of divider tray.

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of a second modified form of divider tray.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary front view of the drum and closure for the spout.

Briefly stated, the invention comprises a variable divider apparatus having a rectangular housing with a drum rotatively mounted to the top of the housing to rotate about a vertical axis. The drum has chute means mounted therein with a spout at the lower end of the chute within the drum. The spout is located offcenter from the rotational axis of the drum. A plurality of divider trays are mounted to a pair of endless chains within the housing and are adapted to be traveled past the spout by the driving of the endless chain. The trays have a variation in size from one end to the other. The drum being rotatable with the outlet spout offcenter enables the spout to be adjusted from the smaller to the larger end of the trays as the trays pass underneath to thereby vary the size of the sample divided out by the trays. The trays after passing beneath the spout are tipped as they travel about the axis of one of the end gears to dump the sample received into a separate chute provided adjacent and beneath the one set of gears at the one end of the housing.

Referring more particularly to the drawings in FIG. 1 the variable divider apparatus 20 is illustrated having a rectangular housing 21, and a rotatable cylindrical drum 22 rotatively mounted to the top of the housing 21. The housing 21 is supported rigidly by four legs 22 which extend downward from the four corners of the housing 21. Within the housing 21 are five divider trays 23, 23', 23, 23", 23", each identical in construction.

The five divider trays 23, 23', 23", 23", and 23"are each mounted between a pair of endless link chains 24 and 24'. The endless link chain 24 is mounted over toothed gears 25 and 26, and endless link chain 24' is mounted over toothed gears 25' and 26. The gears 25 and 25 are fixed to a shaft 27, and the gears 26 and 26 are fixed to a shaft 28. The shafts 27 and 28 are rotatively mounted in spaced parallel relation to one another in the opposing side walls 29 and 30 of the housing 21.

Each of the divider trays 2323"", inclusive, has a bottom plate 31, a front and rear wall 32 and 33, and a pair of side walls 34 and 35 which surround the bottom plate 31 to form the trays. A horizontal metal strap 36 is welded to the forward upper edge of the front wall 32, and a similar horizontal metal strap 37 is welded to the rear upper edge of the rear wall 33. The front edge 38 of the front strap 36 of each divider tray is welded to one of the side linkage plates 39 of the linkage chain 24'. The rear strap 37 is welded to one of the side linkage plates 39 of the endless link chain 24.

Each of the endless link chains 24 and 24' are of a conventional type formed of a plurality of linkage units 40. Each linkage unit has a pair of side plates 39 with lateral pins 41 pivotally mounted in the ends of the side plates 39 to connect the outer ends of each pair of side plates 39 with the outer ends of the side plates 39 of the next linkage unit. The linkage plates 39 being positioned in alternating overlapping relation with the outside linkage plates 42 of the linkage plates 39 overlapping the inside linkage plates 43 of of the linkage plates 39. In each case the pins 41 are fixed to the outside linkage plates and pivotally mounted on the inside linkage plates. The teeth of the gears 25 and 26 engage the lateral pin 41 to drive the endless link chains 24 and 24.

The divider trays may be welded to the linkage plates of other conventional endless link chains between the pivot points.

Each of the divider trays 2323"", inclusive, are evenly spaced from one another, when following the path of their endless link chains 24 and 24'. The width of the rearward wall 33 of the trays is indicated by D l, the spacing between each tray along the rearends of the trays is indicated by D 2, as viewed from FIG. 2. The

spacing D 2 between each tray along the rearward ends of the trays is equal to and the same as the width of the rearward ends 33 of the trays as indicated by D 1, when following the path of the endless chains, as will be seen from FIGS. 4 and 5. Thus, D l and D 2 will be equal to one another when following the path of the endless chains.

The width of each of the divider trays at their forward ends 32 is indicated by D 3 and is equal to onefifth of the width of the rearward ends 33 of each of the divider trays, as indicated by D 1 and thus, D 3 is onefifth of D 1.

The width of each of the divider trays at its forward end 32 indicated by D 3 is equal to one-ninth the width of the spacing between each tray at their forward end,

which spacing is indicated by D 4. Thus the ratio of D 3 to D 4 is one to nine with respect to one another.

A motor (not shown) is attached in a conventional manner to shaft 27 to rotate shaft 27 clockwise when viewed from FIG. 5, and thereby rotate the endless link chains 24 and 24 and the divider trays 23 23, exclusive, clockwise about the shaft 27 and 28 on the gears in the direction indicated by the arrows in FIG. 5, to cause the trays to travel rectitudinarly beneath the drum 22 and a cylindrical opening 47 in the top panel 48 of the housing 21.

The cylindrical drum 22 is rotatively mounted above the housing 21. The drum 22 has an elongated brace 49 fixed between the lower opposing edges 49 and 49 of the drum. The housing 21 has a rectangular top panel 50 with a cylindrical hole 48 centrally in the top panel 51. The inside diameter of hole 48 is generally equal to the inside diameter of the drum 22 and aligned coaxially. The housing 21 has a similar elongated brace 51 which extends across the top of the hole 48 diametrically and is fixed to the top panel 50 at the opposing edges of the hole 48. A pin 52 is fixed to the brace 49 centrally of the axis of the drum and projects downward into a hole 53 in the brace 51, which hole 53 is located at the center axis of the cylindrical hole 48. A washer 54 is fixed to the outside of the pin 52 immediately above the brace 51 and rests upon the brace 51, to space the drum above the top panel 50 and to enable the drum 22 to rotate about the axis of the pin 52 relative to the housing 21.

The housing has four slanted walls 55, 56, 57 and 58 which converge toward one another and are connected together. Two metal conduits or sleeves 59 and 60 are mounted to the bottom of the walls 55, 56, 57, and 58. The walls are close together at their bottom to form a sealed bottom except for two openings 63 and 63 in the bottom of slanted walls 56 and 57. A slanted triangular divider wall 61 is mounted between walls 56 and 57 and divides the area formed by the walls 5558 into two compartments 64 and 64'.

The rotatable drum 22 has a frusto conical sheet metal member 65 mounted in the lower half of the drum 22, a hollow spout 66 is mounted to the lower end 65' of the conical member 65 and projects downward therefrom. An elongated rectangular metal plate 67 has one end welded to the inside wall of the drum and extends radially inward across the bottom 68 of the spout and is fixed thereto. The plate 67 has a cylindrical hole therein which is aligned coaxially with, and it approximately the same size as the inside diameter of the hollow cylindrical spout 66. A C-shaped plate 71 projects through a corresponding C-shaped opening 73 in the side wall 74 of the drum 22, which C-shaped opening surrounds the plate 67. The C-shaped plate 71 is slidably mounted to the plate 67 by the upper legs 74 and 74' curving around the side edges of plate 67 to slidably attach the plate 71 to plate 67 so that plate 71 may be slid through the opening in the drum wall, radially along plate 67 to open and close the hole 70 and thereby open and close the spout. The C-shaped opening enables the C-shaped plate 71 to be slidably operated and attached to the plate 67 from outside the drum wall.

OPERATION The grain divider invention operates as follows:

The operator will place a quantity of grain to be divided in the drum 22, filling up portions of the conical member or filling up all of the conical plates 65 or portions or all of the upper portion of the drum 22. The C-shaped plate 71 will be closed over the spout 66.

The operator will then determine the size of the divided sample he wishes, if there is a relatively large sample of the grain in the drum, he may wish only a small sample, whereon if there is a relatively small quantity of grain in the drum he may wish a large samle. 6 p The operator is he wishes a small sample will rotate the drum 22 about the pin until the spout- 66 is in the uppermost position of phantom line 72, which is in line directly with the smaller forward end portion of the trays, and since the ratio of the width of the small end of the tray D 3 is equal to about one ninth the spacing between the small ends of the trays, as indicated in D 4, as the trays travel beneath the spout 66, approximately a 10 percent sample will be obtained when the spout is at the position indicated by phantom line 72.

If the operator wishes to obtain a relatively large sample, he will rotate the drum 22 to place the spout at the approximate location of phantom lines 73, which is in line directly above the large rearward or tail end portion of the divider trays. Since the ratio of the width of its large rearward end of the trays D l is equal to the spacing between the trays at the rearward end, as indicated by D 2, as the trays travel beneath the spout 66 approximately a 50% sample will be allocated when the spout is at the location indicated by phantom line 73.

Should the operator wish to divide out a sample somewhere between 10 percent and 50 percent he will rotate the drum to place the spout at the approximate place between possibly such as the location indicated by circular phantom lines 74 and 75.

Suitable indicia may be placed upon the top panel at intervals about the drum to indicate the percentage locations, when the spout is in line with that position, and a marker arrow may be placed upon the outside of the drum to indicate where the spout is in radial alignment with the outside surface of the drum to assist in adjusting the drum to a desired percentage location. Also, indicia may be placed on the drum at different vertical heights along the drum to indicate the amount of the grain in the drum, from which he may be able to determine the correct setting of the spout.

Also, the C-shaped plate on the spout may be slid in or out over the spout to vary the rate of the flow of the grain out of the spout 66, so as to prevent more grain from coming out of the spout than the depth of the trays can accommodate as they pass beneath the spout. Also, the depth of the trays may be increased if desired.

Once the operator has placed the spout at the desired percentage location he will energize the motor which will cause the gears 25 and 25' to rotate, which rotates the chains and causes trays 23 23" to pass beneath the drum. Then the operator will slide the C-shaped plate outward to its desired position.

The trays 23 23"" in passing beneath will receive the grain in the trays, of an amount depending upon the location of the spout, and when the trays travel around gears 26 and 26' with the endless chain they will tip the grain in their trays into the compartment 64 and it will travel out the chute 59. The grain coming out of the spout 66 which is not received in the trays will travel down past the trays into the compartment 64' formed by the divider wall 61 and walls 55, 56, and 57 and out chute or conduit 60.

In FIGS. 8 and 9, a first modified form of divider trays 76 is illustrated having a bottom panel 77 and front and rear walls 78 and 79 equal in length to the end walls 32 and 33, respectively, of trays 23-23"".

The side walls 80 and 80' are stepped in to form a plurality of side walls parallel to one another which are progressively closer together from the rear wall 79 to the front wall, to facilitate easy and accurate determination of the percentage size of the sample.

A second modified form of divider trays 81 is illustrated in FIG. 10, also having a bottom panel 82 with its front and rear walls 83 and 84 equal in length to the end walls 32 and 33, respectively, of trays 2323". However, only one side wall 85 is stepped in while the other side wall 86 is straight.

Also both forms of trays 76 and 81 have front and rear straps 87 and 88 welded to their front top and rear top edges, and the outer ends of the straps 87 and 88 are fixed to the linkage plate 39 of the endless linkage chains 24 and 24' in the same manner and with the same spacing as in the first form of the invention with the trays 2323"".

The drum 22 may be mounted for rectlinear movement rather than rotational movement for adjusting the spout, by providing rectlinear guideways for the drum to slide laterally and rectlinearly in parallelism with the length of the trays from the front to rear to adjust to different locations above the trays.

Also, a plurality of these inventions may be employed as in pyramidal relation for further subdividing.

Thus it will be seen that a novel grain divider has been provided which easily and accurately enables a variable size sample to be divided out of grain being sampled.

It will be obvious that various changes and departures may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit thereof, and accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited to that specifically described in the specifications or as illustrated in the drawings but only as set forth in the appended claims wherein:

What is claimed is:

1. A grain divider having a housing, a plurality .of receptacles in said housing adapted to move along a longitudinal path, said receptacles having relatively larger upper opening portions along one end and smaller upper opening portions along the other end in a direction lateral of the receptacle movement, drum means mounted above said housing for retaining grain therein, said drum means having spout means at its lower end for releasing the grain out of the drum means, means to move said spout to positions over the smaller opening or larger opening portions of the receptacles to deposit grain in the opening portions of the receptacles as the receptacles pass beneath the spout, so that the receptacles will receive a correspondingly smaller or larger portion of the grain traveling out of the spout.

2. A grain divider according to claim 1 wherein said receptacles are suspended between a pair of endless chains with the chains mounted over gears for movement along a longitudinal path to move said receptacles along a longitudinal path.

3. A grain divider according to claim 2 wherein said housing has one compartment beneath the central portion of the path of the endless chains and one compartment beneath a remote portion of the path of the endless chains, said endless chains traveling about an arcuate path at the remote portion of their path, whereby when the receptacles reach the remote portion of the path of the endless chains, the receptacles will be tipped by traveling with the chains about the arcuate path to tip the grain in the receptacles into the one compartment. 

1. A grain divider having a housing, a plurality of receptacles in said housing adapted to move along a longitudinal path, said receptacles having relatively larger upper opening portions along one end and smaller upper opening portions along the other end in a direction lateral of the receptacle movement, drum means mounted above said housing for retaining grain therein, said drum means having spout means at its lower end for releasing the grain out of the drum means, means to move said spout to positions over the smaller opening or larger opening portions of the receptacles to deposit grain in the opening portions of the receptacles as the receptacles pass beneath the spout, so that the receptacles will receive a correspondingly smaller or larger portion of the grain traveling out of the spout.
 2. A grain divider according to claim 1 wherein said receptacles are suspended between a pair of endless chains with the chains mounted over gears for movement along a longitudinal path to move said receptacles along a longitudinal path.
 3. A grain divider according to claim 2 wherein said housing has one compartment beneath the central portion of the path of the endless chains and one compartment beneath a remote portion of the path of the endless chains, said endless chains traveling about an arcuate path at the remote portion of their path, whereby when the receptacles reach the remote portion of the path of the endless chains, the receptacles will be tipped by traveling with the chains about the arcuate path to tip the grain in the receptacles into the one compartment. 